Lightweight collapsible loom

ABSTRACT

A direct system for raising and lowering alternate warp threads in a weaving loom making use of continuous loop headle strands with two eyes. Said loop headle strands go directly around and are held in tension by a parallel roller and rod. The compactness and stability of the new headle system make possible the use of an overall light and stable loom structure. A bent tubular loom structure consisting of two U shaped pieces with pivotal joining at mid-section and triangular bracing is included. The invention seeks simplicity, stability, compactness, portability, economy and versitility.

United States Patent 1 Hines [451 May 27, 1975 I LIGHTWEIGHT COLLAPSIBLE LOOM [76] Inventor: Mildred Elizabeth Hines, 72 Second St., Geneseo, NY. 14454 [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 352,700

[52] 11.8. C1. 139/29; 139/33; 28/15 [51] Int. Cl D03d 29/00 [58] Field of Search 139/29-34; 28/15 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 688,500 12/1901 Booze 139/33 1,071,277 8/1913 Thomason 2,228,438 l/1941 Brooks 139/33 2,469,128 5/1949 Pecott 139/33 2,691,203 10/1954 Wilder 139/34 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS United Kingdom 139/33 l2/1955 Sweden 139/29 5/1955 Sweden 139/29 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney, Agent, or FirmDavid A. Tamburro [57] ABSTRACT A direct system for raising and lowering alternate warp threadsjn a weaving loom making use of continuous loop headle strands with two eyes. Said loop headle strands go directly around and are held in tension by a parallel roller and rod. The compactness and stability of the new headle system make possible the use of an overall light and stable loom structure. A bent tubular loom structure consisting of two U shaped pieces with pivotal joining at mid-section and triangular bracing is included. The invention seeks simplicity, stability, compactness, portability, economy and versitility.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET FIG. 2

FIG. 3

LIGHTWEIGHT COLLAPSIBLE LOOM BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is a continuous loop headle system which would eliminate the need for the usual two separate harnesses in a weaving loom. The continuous loop headle strands are attached to a roller which is turned to raise and lower warp threads. The lightweight bent tubular loom structure can be folded with material in place and can be used as a vertical tapestry loom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 Front view of headle system FIG. 2 Side view of headle system FIG. 3 Section view of headle system FIG. 4 Side view of tubular loom with warp and weaving in place.

FIG. 5 View of tubular structure and rigid upright supports for headle system DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Traditionally looms are bulky and complex. In the usual loom many parts and joints make construction complicated. The usual headle system involves framelike harnesses upon which the headles are strung and various means of suspending and moving the harnesses. This necessitates large and bulky supports. Another usual headle system the rigid headle system is simpler but too limited in that only one particular number of warp threads per inch must be used.

The invention involves a recognition of a much simpler, lighter more stable, compact, portable and versatile headle system. The headle system is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The invention involves continuous loop headle strands 7 which go directly around the roller 2 and the rod 4 each headle strand containing two eyes and 11. This eliminates the need for the usual separate harnesses and related parts. The direct action of the headles attached to the roller causes alternate warp threads to raise and lower. The roller and the rod are supported between a set of rigid uprights l.

The headle system as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 would be inserted into a loom. For the sake of clarity the drawing shows only one continuous loop headle strand. The loom could have any number that its width would accommodate.

Attachment of headles one end of the two-eyed string headle strand 7 is looped over the thin bar 3 on top of the roller 2. The headle goes around under the bottom rod 4 and the other end is looped over the thin bar 3 from the opposite side so that the headle strand encircles both the bottom rod and the roller. The thin bar is attached to the roller after the desired number of headles have been put on. For weaving, warp threads 8 are strung up alternately in 10 and 11 headle eyes. For actual weaving there would be a number of headles. When the handle 6 is brought forward and down, the roller 2 turns causing the warp threads in the 10 headle eyes to raise and the warp thread in 11 headle eyes to lower. When the handle is turned approximately 180 degrees backwards, 11 are raised and 10 are lowered. The woven material 9 is made by putting the weft thread in the appropriate place after each turn.

The headles in the working model which I have built are made of string and are 21 /2 inches long. The total height of the unit is just over 10 inches. Dimensions of the headle strands and of the entire structure could vary according to the size of the loom. Headle strands can be made of string, wire, or other flexible material. Headles can be set up at any number per inch. Headles can be made either by joining together two one-eyed headles or be originally made with two eyes.

The new headle systems resulting simplicity and stability make it very portable. A usual headle system cannot be as portable as the parts become misaligned or additional weight due to more complex construction is necessary. The compactness and stability of the new headle make possible the use of an overall light and stable loom structure.

The new loom is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A combination of lightness and simplicity of the bent tubular structure and its triangular bracing make the loom superior in stability, portability, and ease of folding and storage. Optimum effectiveness of the new loom is dependent upon the new headle system. The loom structure is comprised of two U shaped tubular pieces pivotaly joined at mid-section. A stable triangular brace is created by the attachment of the rigid uprights to the tubulor structure. The use of continuous bent tubing curves instead of right angle joints eliminates problems involved with the usual complicated construction of looms. The simple triangular bracing also eliminates construction problems as well as making the loom easily collapsible for storage.

In FIG. 4 the loom is shown about one-third actual size of the working model; it could be made in varying widths and sizes. The tubing could be aluminum, plastic, steel or any other suitable material. The model is intended to be a table loom; by making its legs longer it could be built as a floor loom.

Warp roller 13 and cloth roller 12 are wooden dowels and are located to give optimum room for rolling long lengths of warp and woven material, more room than in usual table looms. Loom can be folded for storage while weaving is in place by removing one set of bolts and wing nuts connecting the tubing to the headle system support 1. I

Loom is shownthreaded with warp 8 and woven material 9. Weaving is done by beating in weft with a thin stick after each alternation of warp threads. The continuous loop headle system 1, shown from the side on the side-view drawing, FIG. 4, would be used to alternate the threads. The loom can also be used standing on points 14 and 15 as a vertical tapestry loom.

The new headle system can be used in any size or type floor or table loom. I do not wish the headle systems use to be limited to only the tubular loom. The tubular looms optimum effectiveness, however, is dependent upon the new headle system.

I claim:

1. A lightweight, collapsible loom comprising two U- shaped members each having a pair of spaced legs connected by a transverse base portion, said members being arranged so that one leg of one member is positioned adjacent one leg of the other member, the adjacent legs of said members being pivotally joined at their mid-sections, a shedding mechanism including a pair of rigid uprights each of which extends transversely of and substantially intersects adjacent legs of said members, means for connecting each upright to each of said adjacent legs at their area of intersection to form a stable triangular brace, warp and cloth rollers, and means for mounting said rollers on at least one of said members.

2. A loom as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means included means for mounting the warp roller on the legs of one of said members, and means for mounting the cloth roller on the legs of the other of said members.

3. A loom as defined in claim 2, wherein said members are of one-piece, tubular construction, having a pair of legs connected by a curved base portion.

4. A loom as defined in claim 1, wherein said members are of one-piece, tubular construction, having a pair of legs connected by a curved base portion.

eyes. 

1. A lightweight, collapsible loom comprising two U-shaped members each having a pair of spaced legs connected by a transverse base portion, said members being arranged so that one leg of one member is positioned adjacent one leg of the other member, the adjacent legs of said members being pivotally joined at their mid-sections, a shedding mechanism including a pair of rigid uprights each of which extends transversely of and substantially intersects adjacent legs of said members, means for connecting each upright to each of said adjacent legs at their area of intersection to form a stable triangular brace, warp and cloth rollers, and means for mounting said rollers on at least one of said members.
 2. A loom as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means included means for mounting the warp roller on the legs of one of said members, and means for mounting the cloth roller on the legs of the other of said mEmbers.
 3. A loom as defined in claim 2, wherein said members are of one-piece, tubular construction, having a pair of legs connected by a curved base portion.
 4. A loom as defined in claim 1, wherein said members are of one-piece, tubular construction, having a pair of legs connected by a curved base portion.
 5. A loom as defined in claim 1, said shedding mechanism further comprising a roller and a rod extending between said uprights, a plurality of heddles formed by strands which extend around said roller and rod, a bar for securing said strands to said roller, the ends of each strand being anchored around said bar from opposite directions, and means attaching said bar to said roller.
 6. A loom as defined in claim 5, wherein said heddle strands are continuous and are formed with a pair of eyes. 